External HD used by Time Machine & to store TV shows...

I currently have a 250GB external HD that I use to store old photos and TV shows that I cannot fit on my internal HD.
I recently connected Time Machine to this hard drive. Time machine has taken up most of the remaining space on this hard drive. So much, in fact, that I cannot continue to put any other files on the external HD.
I am wondering if there is some way I can alter how far back Time Machine keeps backup files. I would like to reduce the size of the backup files to free up space on my external HD so I can store more of my other files such as TV episodes that don't fit on my internal HD.
If anyone has any potential solutions, any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Joe

One poster said that that he set up a disk image using the size limit he wanted to use for Time Machine. He then chose the disk image as his Time Machine drive. However, I doubt this is something that is supported by Apple so you should have an alternate back up strategy in place while trying this out.
You might want to consider purchasing an external drive instead, however. The prices are so reasonable that it makes little sense to put yourself in a position of being tight on storage.

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Can I drag files to an external drive used for Time Machine to store them?

Is that possible without doing partition? if so, what's the difference (with partition and without)? I'm undecided on whether to partition or not. Thanks!

stellamaris5 wrote:
Sorry to chip in - I'm having a similar issue.
Aaargh.
I want to delete about 8Gb worth of data from my internal HD on my iMac. Will I still have a copy in time machine?
For a while, until time machine runs out of space and deletes its copy.
Is timemachine then deleting them from the TM backup disk if they are gone from the internal HD.
Eventually, yes.
I have done a similar thing as the OP and cut the 8Gb folder from my MacHD and pasted it into the external disk where TM is doing its backups.
Then you are wallowing in a state of sin.
1. Should I leave it like that?
No.
or
2. should I cut and paste it back into my MacHD, leave TM to do a few backups and then completely delete it from my MacHD?
Neither. If you want to keep it, keep it on your MacHD, if you want to delete it delete it. Leave the Time Machine disk the **** alone.
Thanks
Not at all.

External drive use for Time Machine change to "Read Only"

I have an external hard drive set up for backing up with Time Machine on my Mac. It has been working well. Now when time machine tries to back up it tells me the external disk is read only. The hard drive does mount to the computer and will let me open the Time Machine folder. When I am in disk utility it also sees the external hard drive but will not let me click on repair disk permissions. Under the drive info's sharing & permissions window it said " You can only read." , After unlocking everything is grayed out, but the permission is set to read & write. Any thoughts on how to get this drive back to read and write? Its a 2TB drive with 1.79TB on disk. The drive has not been ever used on a windows machine or use on any other computer and is use only for Time Machine backups. One day it was read/write next day read only. Thanks!

The backup drive has malfunctioned and corrupted itself. If that has ever happened before, or if it ever happens again, replace the drive. You may want to consider replacing it anyway for the safety of your data.
You should start another backup now, on another drive, if you don't already have one. One backup is never enough to be safe.
If you choose to keep using the problem drive, turn Time Machine OFF temporarily in its preference pane, then launch Disk Utility, select the backup volume, and run Repair Disk. This operation may take several hours. If the volume can't be repaired, you'll have to erase it and start over. Don't do that unless you have at least one other complete backup. Remember to turn TM back ON.

Update 10.5.6: external HD used for Time Machine does not MOUNT anymore

I've used this LaCie external Little Big Disk since November 2007 with Time Machine, without problems. Recently, after updating to OS 10.5.6, the disk does not mount anymore when connected by FireWire800. Same result when using FW400 and USB.
The disk shows up in the System Profiler under FireWire. When I run analysis with a program 'Data Rescue II', it also sees the disk.
Main issue: disk does not mount anymore. So no more TM backups possible.
Although the disk also shows up in Disk Utilities, I can't partition or reformat it. I ran the LaCie Update Tool 2.0.1 and it says firmware is up-to-date.
I also reinstalled the Combo Update 10.5.6 without result. Also did all the forum recommendations such as resetting PRAM and using Terminal to 'mount /dev/xxx'. Does not help.
I feel this is an Apple issue.

Yes, did it three times. Also already hooked up in daisy chain, and yes, also connected to another Mac (also 10.5.6). Same result. I think it's an OS 10.5.6 issue, because it happened after the update and I had never problems in the last year using this disk with TM (it's not full either). I hope it's not, however, but I am afraid it is. Also I've posted the issue at LaCie support and see what they answer.
Thank you for your reply.

Can I restore a complete system to a bare external drive using my Time Machine disk?

My iMac hard drive appears to have gone "belly up"... no system disk found on boot up. I have a current Time Machine external drive for this iMac. Can I use the TM Disk to clone my old system onto a new EXTERNAL Disk. (I have access to several other Apple computers that would allow me to boot an external disk... IF I can re-create the one that died.)
Thanks much for your thoughts and ideas.

You can use the TM backup to Restore it to another External drive.I wouldn't call it Cloning as that is something different than doing a Restore from TM backup. You'll ned to connect both drives to the system and boot the system from the original reinstall DVD that came with it. then there should be an option to restore your system from a TM backup and you would point it to the other external drive. You may want to use Disk utility first to partition and format that othr external Mac Extended (Journaled) before you try doing the restore.

How to format an external drive used for time machine

My 150 Gig external hard drive showed too full for a time machine backup. It only showed 20 gig left. So I moved the time machine backup on it to the trash to make room for a new one. This did nothing. With the files in the trash the drive still shows full even though it has no time machine backup on it.
So I would like to know how I can format this drive again to get it to accept a brand new time machine backup. Or how do I get time machine to recognize the drive as empty instead of full.
I now know I should have at least a 500 gig drive to let time machine make it's plethora of backups. But the 150 gig drive is what I have right now to backup an 80 gig hard drive and I would like to start from scratch.
Thanks,
JJ Bula

With the files in the trash the drive still shows full
You need to empty the Trash before anything is actually removed from the drive.
If you want to completely erase the drive, launch Disk Utility, select the drive, go to the Erase pane and click "Erase".

Why does my new external drive used by time machine keep starting when no backup is being done

Got a new 2 TB Seagate GoFlex for Mac and run it over WireFire 800 because the old Western Digital was having a hard time starting up which held up the boot. I have a 2.8 Ghz Core 2 Duo desktop with 3 GB of RAM. Running OS X 10.6.8.
Seems like the every 10 minutes or so, I hear the external drive start up even when no backup is scheduled. I spend most of my time in a Win XP Parallels virtual machine.
What's up?

Why would you say that? The drive has passed several Seagate verifys. It does not exhibit any issues. It is doing backups and I copied my 39 GB virtual machine to it with no issues.
Seems to me a drive does not just start up by itself, no?

Constant problems with external HD used for time machine.

I have had numerous problems with my backup disk and can't seem to solve the problem... I often get errors with disk not ejecting properly, sometimes when the iMac has gone to sleep, sometimes not. Often the Mac won't recognise the disk when plugged back in (it recognises the other partition though). I can get the disk in disk utility sometimes, but if I run repair disk it finds a lot of errors and tells me it can't fix the disk. I'm told to Backup, format the disk etc.
Running yosemite on a 2008 iMac - disk is Hitachi 1TB usb powered (plugged straight in to iMac). I have prevented spotlight from indexing the HD.
Any advice ideas? Thanks in advance.

applejoose wrote:
I can't because it's a specific type.
Is it hard-wired to the enclosure? If not, examine the connectors and compare with what is available. I doubt that it has a connector that is unique to this particular drive.
If you choose to replace the drive, don't get another manufacturer-branded external. They are often "crippled" so that they can't be used in anything other than the generally cheap enclosure in which they are packaged, or only usable if you re-format them. Here's a comment from a recent Macintouch thread on new Seagate 5TB externals (http://www.macintouch.com/readerreports/harddrives/index.html#d23mar2015):
A word of warning for those who want to rip out their drive. If you have data on it, it will only be read by Seagate controllers such as its original case or the GoFlex adapters. If you stick it in something like an IcyDock, it cannot be read and require a reformat. If you used it with another controller, it cannot be read when you put it back on the Seagate controllers.
A good quality enclosure, such as the OWC Mercury aluminum cases, is a good investment. You can choose the drive you install, and you usually get a better drive warranty that way.

Can't load Mavericks says that my disk is used for Time machine.

I am unable to progress with the loading because when it asks which disk to load it on, I mouse over my hard drive and says this disk is used for Time machine back up. I have an external hard drive for the back up and there is nothing in my Time Machine settings that has my hard drive. It is a Macbook Pro 15" 2011.

Disconnect the external drive. Sometimes, that message appears because the folder used by Time Machine to store backups is in the root level of the hard drive, so open a Finder window, select the Go menu (on the menu bar) > Go to Folder, and type:
Then, delete "Backups.backupdb" and empty the Trash. Finally, open the Mavericks installer again and install OS X Mavericks

Down loaded Mavericks, will not install on my computer because it says "this hard drive is used for time machine back up".

Down loaded mavericks, it will not install on my computer because it says" this hard drive is used for time machine back up". So I used my old computer hard drive for back up and reloaded the program but it still says the first hard drive is being used.

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
Make sure you have selected your MacBook Pro's hard drive as the destination to install Mavericks. If so, you have the "Backups.backupdb" folder in the root level of your hard drive.
That's the folder used by Time Machine to store backups of your files, and the Mavericks installer understands that your internal hard disk is the Time Machine drive.
To fix this, open a Finder window, select the Go menu (on the menu bar) > Go to Folder, and type:
Then, delete "Backups.backupdb", empty the Trash and run the Mavericks installer. Finally, install OS X Mavericks

Cannot install Mavks. Get the message that HD is used for Time Machine B/U. Not true. Also Time Machine is turned off.

Cannot install Mavks. Get the message that HD is used for Time Machine B/U. Not true. Also Time Machine is turned off. Running OS 10.8.5.

That message appears when there's a "Backups.backupdb" folder in the root level of the OS X volume. This folder is used by Time Machine to store backups, being this the reason why the OS X Mavericks installer detects the OS X partition as used by Time Machine.
To delete it, open a Finder window, select the Go menu (on the menu bar) > Go to Folder, and type:
Then, delete "Backups.backupdb" and empty the Trash. Finally, open the OS X Mavericks installer in /Applications and follow the steps. Make sure you have got a backup of your files before upgrading and check that your apps are compatible > http://www.roaringapps.com

Backing up photos on iMac using external hard drive and time machine

How do i back up photos from my imac using an external hard drive and time machine
Thanks in advance

Apple explains how to use Time Machine in http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1427.
Setting up and using TM is very simple to do, connect any external HD (format as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) using Disk Utility ) and your computer shoudl ask if you want to use that EHD for a Time Machine backup. If you have any questions visit your local Apple Store or reseller and they can answer how to setup and use TM and also should be able to offer suggestions on EHDs. My personal preference is OWC (www.macsales.com) Mercury Elite Pro due to the build quality and OWC's level of support.

Time Capsule- Can i use it for Time Machine and store media files?

Hi,
I'm very new to Time Capsule (have a 1TB TC), but have been using Time Machine to back up my MacBook Pro onto an external HD for a while now.
Here's my question. is it possible to use the Time Machine capabilities of Time Capsule while also using it to store music and picture files. Ideally I'd like to be able to have my iTunes and iPhoto library available on the Time Capsule. that way it could be centralized and readable from a few Macs in the house.
Thanks!

brianfallen wrote:
When you say the info on it won't be backed up. What do you mean "the info on it"? Do you just mean the mp3, AAC ...etc files aren't backed up because they live on the TC only?
I just want to make sure cause I did the same thing but I want to make sure I wont lose all my music and photos.
If the only place you have these music and photo files is on the TC HDD, then if the TC HDD fails, you lose all those files. Here's another option. TC has an archive feature. That means you can, via AirPort Utility -> Disks, use the Archive feature to clone the TC HDD onto a USB HDD attached to the USB port of TC. It's not like TM, making incremental backups. You have to manually archive it, but it is an alternative.
My photos remain on my iMac internal HDD. That means they are backed up by TM onto the TC HDD. If my iMac internal HDD fails, I still have the TM backups. I also backup yearly photos to DVDs. Photos are irreplaceble, you know.

I am out of space on my Macbook Air and have a Time Machine Backup. I want to complete reset my mac, but wonder if I can pick and choose what I restore to my computer? Can I also use my time machine backup and external storage as well?

I am out of space on my Macbook Air and have a Time Machine Backup. I want to complete reset my mac, but wonder if I can pick and choose what I restore to my computer? Can I also use my time machine backup as external storage as well for the files I don't need everyday?

If you are using "Restore from Time Machine Backup" option from OS X Recovery, you can only choose from the broad categories presented.
... Can I also use my time machine backup as external storage as well for the files I don't need everyday?
To be clear, if you are asking if you can use the volume containing your Time Machine backup to store additional, non-Time Machine files, the short answer is yes.
It's not a good idea though, since the Time Machine backup will eventually fill all available space, after which it begins to remove old, "expired" backups to make room for newer ones. The presence of additional files doesn't change that fact, and Time Machine will not erase them, but you will encounter a dilemma should you want to store additional files on that volume when there is no remaining space. You will have to make room for them on your own, by deleting existing files. Furthermore, since Time Machine cannot back up its own volume, those additional files will not be backed up by Time Machine.
The easy solution for what you describe is to purchase additional external storage. External USB hard disk drives have become very inexpensive; about $55 will buy a perfectly suitable 1 TB drive.
You can also choose to replace your MacBook Air's internal storage with a larger capacity one. Look for a suitable replacement from OWC / MacSales:
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/SSD/OWC/Air-Retina
That gets a little more expensive but it is the optimum solution.

I bought an external hard drive for backups to use with Time Machine, but however when I try to connect it with the other windows laptop it doesn't work ? intact it doesn't work on any other device except my MAC ?

I bought an external hard drive for backups to use with Time Machine, but however when I try to connect it with the other windows laptop it doesn't work ? intact it doesn't work on any other device except my MAC ?

Do not worry about it.
Time Machine needs that your external drive is formatted in HFS+, or better known as "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)". This filesystem is used by Apple on Macs and Windows cannot read or write drives formatted with this filesystem, being this the reason why all your devices do not read the external drive except your Mac.
You can only use your external drive to make Time Machine drives. If you store anything different, you may damage the Time Machine structure, so it is better not to use it as a drive to store other data. Instead, get another external drive to do it or create a second partition on the external drive formatted in FAT32 by using Disk Utility > http://pondini.org/OSX/DU3.html FAT32 can be read by Windows PCs

External HD used by Time Machine & to store TV shows...

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